It finally happened!

[RubenF]

So for anyone who may remember, I posted a while ago about how I was generally disappointed with my CC journey so far. I was encouraged to plug along, and honestly after purchasing many boxes from FoH I had little choice. Today I sit having a Cohiba Corona Especial and I'm finally finding the magic. Pure honey and cream, just the most amazing smoking experience with zero rough edges. Maybe they finally rested long enough? Maybe the ones before this one were bad examples? Who knows, but so far this is one of the best smokes I've had. Redemption is at hand! 

[SmokyFontaine]

I was JUST coming here to mention a similar experience!!

Dryboxing for me has been key to getting good burn and no-canoeing, but for me the ah ha moment was a RASS (REG APR18) last night. I tasted the raisin, the vegetal flavors (both of which I'd never experienced before) but perhaps tied to that, or separate all together, I got this light reminder of roasting coffee. Not brewing, but roasting of the green beans. I roast my own so I'm quite familiar with the smell, but if you've been outside a roast shop you know what I'm talking about. 

It all made for such a beautiful combination of unique flavors. Burn was quite good, ash was a champ. I'd been left wanting more from many of the CCs I've smoked so far, with some downright bad, and most in the range of "OK, that is different I suppose. I guess I'll just age most and smoke some every couple months or so" (Monte 2's, 4's, Royal Robusto, Conny A, Cohiba Siglo II, Short Churchill, Punch Punch, Partagas no 4 - I've freakin tried).

But the RASS was simply magical and renews my excitement to keep trying!

[THEMISCHMAN]

Cigars are a journey, not a destination. With Cubans in particular one must be a traveler and not a tourist. I’m glad you both had an “ah-hah” moment. Enjoy the journey.

[Colt45]

1 hour ago, RubenF said:

Maybe.... Maybe.... Redemption is at hand! 

Trust yourself and your own experience

[CaptainQuintero]

Awesome news, both of you 

When you get that magic you know what to chase, glad you stuck with it. 

[99call]

I find unearthing great Cuban cigars to be a bit like. The first time hitting a golf ball. You can do it pretty easily with minimum thought or effort.  Then a whole host of friends or onlookers will say. "No widen your grip" "square your hips" "focus on your last vertibra" "concentrate your chi" Yadda Yadda Yadda.    All of a sudden. You can't hit shit.          Like El Pres says. "No preconceptions". Ultimately we as smokers can make a good cigar, mediocre, because we want it to be excellent.       No doubt there will be duds. But like that golf ball. Sometimes the less you thrash it, the further it actually flies.

[slowsmoke]

The corona especiales was the first Cohiba that made me say wow.  I love them.

[CampDelta369]

On 7/26/2019 at 11:07 AM, SmokyFontaine said:

I was JUST coming here to mention a similar experience!!

Dryboxing for me has been key to getting good burn and no-canoeing, but for me the ah ha moment was a RASS (REG APR18) last night. I tasted the raisin, the vegetal flavors (both of which I'd never experienced before) but perhaps tied to that, or separate all together, I got this light reminder of roasting coffee. Not brewing, but roasting of the green beans. I roast my own so I'm quite familiar with the smell, but if you've been outside a roast shop you know what I'm talking about. 

It all made for such a beautiful combination of unique flavors. Burn was quite good, ash was a champ. I'd been left wanting more from many of the CCs I've smoked so far, with some downright bad, and most in the range of "OK, that is different I suppose. I guess I'll just age most and smoke some every couple months or so" (Monte 2's, 4's, Royal Robusto, Conny A, Cohiba Siglo II, Short Churchill, Punch Punch, Partagas no 4 - I've freakin tried).

But the RASS was simply magical and renews my excitement to keep trying!

That’s so contrary to my RASS experience so far which has been very short beginnings for me. I’ve had several that were a bit harsh with no magic. I actually tossed one last week.  I am going to try Dry boxing the RASS after reading this post. The first one I had was quite enjoyable single out of store. I have not got the stewed fruits yet but I am sitting on a PSP box that has some killer red hues on the wrappers. BTW the Cohiba Lancero from last weekend was a home run CC for me. 

[Thirds]

I’m new too but thanks to help of some wise folks on this board, I’ve dropped the humidity, dry box to further lower the humidity and the flavors just explode.  Like a good smoked brisket, go low and slow.   Works every time. 

[SmokyFontaine]

2 hours ago, CampDelta369 said:

That’s so contrary to my RASS experience so far which has been very short beginnings for me. I’ve had several that were a bit harsh with no magic. I actually tossed one last week.  I am going to try Dry boxing the RASS after reading this post. The first one I had was quite enjoyable single out of store. I have not got the stewed fruits yet but I am sitting on a PSP box that has some killer red hues on the wrappers. BTW the Cohiba Lancero from last weekend was a home run CC for me. 

Yah, the dry box helped a ton IMO. I also accidentally tried a new smoking technique. I was going in for a draw and got a quick start to a puff but a bat flew by or something and drew my attention. Half second later I jump in for the draw and just the touch of smoke lingering gave my a whole different note than I tasted from a long draw. Damndest thing, but I'm going to try that more often. I used to be a one, long draw guy.

[Spurgeon]

Having that moment with a RASS at this very moment! 

I love cigars, but have never been in love with the real peppery bite that is inherent in many NCs. No such thing with this stick. Simply splendid. I’m sure there will be some duds down the stretch, but this is just fantastic!

[Ry27]

Thats a topic in its own, what cigar made you a believer?

I had a HdM Epi 2 that tasted like pure sugar cane, it was amazing, I had to pull my car over and take a pic and make sure I took the proper amount of time in between puffs to not ruin it. Then I had a RASCC that tasted like ground up raisin paste, it was so clear it was hard to believe raisin was being tasted from tobacco.  

Another thing, its 2019, the technology on this planet is crazy, is it too much to ask for consistent construction from Cuba?? How is this still happening? Quality Control?

 

 

[CampDelta369]

I’m definitely working on lowering my RH% in the humidor. I am realistically at 65% since I am using Bovida packs and they are drying out. My 67%RH is tied to temperature at 74F. And yes I watched Mr. Piggy excellent video on this @PigFish concerning temperature, RH%, and moisture content. I am trying to get down to 62%RH as well. I don’t fault the RASS at all. I need to do my part. 

I have a PSP RASCC in transit because I want the RAISINS too. @Ry27

[Hollywood Ninja]

58RH has been the game changer for me.  Not magically different than 65RH, but non-taste smoking experience plays a part obviously.

[pguss]

Thanks so much for starting this thread.  I’m also new to CC and haven’t found anything like the flavors described by FOH members.  I’ve smoked maybe 25 singles from a variety of marcas and vitolas and mostly they just taste like cigars, if that makes sense.  I love the FOH community and I’ve followed other members advice about storing at 62 and resting for 60 days and dry boxing at 58.  I understand that it’s a journey, and it may be that CCs are not for me, but this post inspires me to keep trying - thanks.

[THEMISCHMAN]

and it may be that CCs are not for me, but this post inspires me to keep trying - thanks.

That’s a possibility too. I think a lot of people fall into the trap of thinking that they’re going to smoke a Cuban cigar and it will be like the second coming of Christ or some other life changing event. That’s typically not the case however. Cuban, Non-Cuban, either way they’re just cigars. It’s all subjective and I don’t believe that one is better than the other every time and all the time for all people. This is a Cuban cigar-centric forum so obviously there will be a bias leaning towards the former. At the end of the day, I have always believed in smoking what you like and liking what you smoke.

[Tstew75]

After being the wine business for 20 years & critically tasting wines in a way as to discover how soils/climates/grapes influence certain wines, and being eventually able to distinguish b/w all of it, CCs were a natural progression. If I've learned one thing from wine, is that NOTHING can replace time/experience....smoke/taste as much as humanly possible & write notes if it helps. Your palate will change immensely over the years. One small analogy is that most serious wine drinkers start out loving power & flash (Cali Cab for instance), and end up most likely preferring/searching out more class & nuance (Burgundy, Champagne etc). But in the end, all styles of wine & cigars have a reason for being & please different people. Enjoy.

[SmokyFontaine]

The good Fidel giveth and the good Fidel taketh away. 1.5wk dryboxed RASS from the exact.same.box, and it was apparently wrapped in space-age flame retardant material, because that sure as s**t wasn't tobacco. Didn't make it to the halfway point before I gave up and threw it across the yard. 

I just don't get it. The inconsistency is unfathomable for me. Back to the drawing board. ?

[earthson]

Some smoke well right away, some need some time.  I've got 5 year old RyJPC that still are *just* turning the corner.

Other thing too, Havanas are a different animal than non-Cubans, which are what I started on.  From the blending to the construction to the danged vitolas, it's generally night and day.